Capsule for the preparation of beverages

ABSTRACT

A cartridge (10) containing a dose (12) of at least one substance that can be used for preparing a liquid product, said cartridge comprising a side wall (140), a first end wall (142), through which said liquid product is able to flow out of the cartridge (10), and a second end wall (16) of the cartridge (10) at the end opposite to said first end wall (142), wherein said side wall (140), said first end wall (142), and said second end wall (16) comprise a compostable material. At least one, preferably both, of said first end wall (142) and said second end wall (16) have a layered structure comprising at least one layer (1420; 160) of a first compostable material and at least one layer (1422; 162) of a second compostable material, with at least one coating layer (1423) forming a barrier to oxygen and to water vapour sandwiched between said layer (1420) of a first compostable material and said layer (1422) of a second compostable material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates to cartridges for preparing liquid products.

One or more embodiments may refer to cartridges for preparing beverages, such as coffee or tea.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Cartridges (also known as “capsules” or “pods”) for preparing liquid products, such as beverages, by introducing into the cartridge liquid (possibly under pressure and/or at high temperature) and/or steam constitute a technological sector that is extremely rich and articulated, as documented, for example, by FR-A-757 358, FR-A-2 373 999 (corresponding to which is U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,202), FR-A-2 556 323, GB-A-938 617, GB-A-2 023 086, CH-A-406 561, U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,617, 3,470,812, 3,607,297 (corresponding to which is FR-A-1 537 031), WO-A-86/02 537, EP-A-0 199 953, EP-A-0 211 511, EP-A-0 242 556, EP-A-0 468 078, EP-A-0 469 162, EP-A-0 507 905, WO 2010/106516 A1, and EP-A-2 218 653.

A fair part of the solutions described in the documents referred to above primarily regards preparation of liquid products constituted by beverages such as coffee, tea, chocolate, broth, soups, or various infusions. As regards preparation of coffee, known (for example, from EP-A-0 507 905, already mentioned previously) are solutions designed to enable preparation of espresso coffee.

Documents such as EP-B-2 648 579 exemplify the possibility of using compostable materials to produce at least part of the above cartridges. For instance, EP-B-2 648 579 describes a cartridge comprising a bottom wall having a layered structure with at least one layer of a first compostable material that is able to undergo softening and/or melting at a temperature ranging between 70° C. and 120° C., and at least one layer of a second compostable material that does not undergo sensible softening and/or melting at the above temperature; the aforesaid layers of compostable material may be coupled to form a composite material.

The characteristics that a material must possess for it to be defined as “compostable”, according to a definition commonly adopted also at a patent level (see, for example, in addition to WO 2010/077066 A1, documents such as EP-B-0 497 838, EP-B-0 561 982, EP-B-0 788 733, EP-B-0 723 572, EP-B-0 868 275, EP-B-0 971 818, and EP-B-1 842 944), are currently established by the European Norm EN 13432 “Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation—Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging”, recently adopted also in Italy as UNI EN 13432. According to this norm, the characteristics that a compostable material must present are the following:

Biodegradability, i.e., the metabolic conversion of the compostable material into carbon dioxide. This property is measured with a standard testing method, namely prEN 14046 (also published as ISO 14855: biodegradability under controlled composting conditions). The level of acceptance is 90% biodegradability (with respect to cellulose) to be achieved in less than 6 months.

Disintegrability, i.e., the fragmentation and loss of visibility in the final compost (absence of visual contamination). This property is measured with a composting test on a pilot scale (prEN 14045). Samples of the test material are composted together with organic waste for 3 months. At the end, the compost is sifted with a 2-mm sieve. The mass of residue of the test material with a size greater than 2 mm must be less than 10% of the initial mass.

Absence of adverse effects on the composting process, verified with a composting test on a pilot scale.

Low levels of heavy metals (below predefined maximum values) and absence of adverse effects on the quality of the compost (e.g., reduction of the agronomic value and presence of ecotoxicological effects on the growth of plants). A plant-growth test (test OECD 208, modified) is carried out on samples of compost where degradation of the test material has occurred. No difference must appear as compared to a control compost.

Other chemico-physical parameters that must not change after degradation of the material being studied: pH; saline content; volatile solids; N; P; Mg; K.

It will be appreciated that a biodegradable material is not necessarily compostable because it must also disintegrate during a composting cycle. On the other hand, a material that breaks up during a composting cycle into microscopic pieces that are not then, however, totally biodegradable is not compostable. UNI EN 13432 is a harmonized norm; i.e., it has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union and is adopted in Europe at a national level and envisages presumption of compliance with the European Directive No. 94/62 EC, on packaging and packaging waste.

The compostable capsules or cartridges for preparing coffee (or tea or other liquid products such as beverages) according to the UNI EN 13432 norm can be disposed of in organic recycling (composting), e.g., envisaging that the so-called “spent” capsules undergo a process of disintegration within a pre-set time (3 months).

Compostable materials that may be used for the production of the above cartridges may, however, present a permeability to water vapour and to oxygen such as not to facilitate long-term conservation of the foodstuff product contained therein.

In particular, characteristics of compostability (i.e., of capacity of the material and product being modified by the surrounding environment in the sense of chemico-physical degradation), of thermomechanical resistance in conditions of delivery in the coffee machine, and of impermeability to the oxidising agents of the foodstuff product may in a certain sense be antithetic or in any case cannot easily coexist in one and the same product.

A solution that may be implemented for using compostable capsules (hence, ones having a contained power of impermeability to gases) and at the same time for obtaining a long-term conservation of the foodstuff products could be that of using a secondary wrapper (or packaging) designed to ensure impermeability to gases.

This solution, however, may present a series of disadvantages, for example in terms of:

cost, since it envisages the use of an additional packaging material;

environmental sustainability: even though the above packaging is sortable, it increases the ratio between the amount of the packaging material and the amount of foodstuff product;

quality: once the protective packaging has been opened, the foodstuff product could undergo organoleptic degradation due to exposure to external oxidising agents.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks.

According to one or more embodiments, the above object is achieved thanks to a cartridge having the characteristics recalled in claim 1.

The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a cartridge according to embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of a cartridge according to embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view at an enlarged scale of the detail indicated by the arrow III in FIG. 2, in particular of the bottom wall of a cartridge according to embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of a cartridge according to embodiments; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view at an enlarged scale of the detail indicated by the arrow V in FIG. 4, in particular of the closing wall of a cartridge according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrated in the ensuing description are various specific details aimed at providing an in-depth understanding of examples of embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiments may be provided without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail so that the various aspects of the embodiments will not be obscured.

Reference to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” in the framework of the present description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure, or characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is comprised in at least one embodiment. Hence, phrases such as “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment” that may be present in various points of this description do not necessarily refer to one and the same embodiment. Moreover, particular conformations, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any adequate way in one or more embodiments.

The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and hence do not define the sphere of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

In the figures, the reference number 10 designates as a whole a cartridge (or pod or capsule; these terms are here used as being equivalent) for preparing a liquid product by introducing liquid and/or steam into the cartridge.

In various embodiments, the liquid product in question may be constituted by a beverage such as coffee (for example, espresso coffee) or tea, for example obtained by introducing liquid and/or steam under pressure into the cartridge and at a high temperature (i.e., hot).

In any case, the repeated reference, in the framework of the present detailed description, to preparation of a particular beverage is in no way to be understood as in any sense limiting the scope of the description, which is altogether general.

The cartridge 10 contains a dose 12 of at least one substance that is able to form the aforesaid product via the aforesaid liquid and/or steam.

In various embodiments, the dose 12 may be constituted by ground coffee, or by another precursor of a liquid product such as a beverage, tea, chocolate either in powdered or granular form, products for preparing broths, soups, drinks, and infusions of various nature. This list is to be understood as purely having the purpose of example and is in no way binding.

In one or more embodiments, the structure of the cartridge 10 (for example, illustrated in FIG. 1), is as a whole substantially shaped like a tray or small cup within which the dose 12 is contained.

In one or more embodiments, the body of the cartridge, designated as a whole by 14, may comprise:

a side wall (or skirt wall) 140 made of a compostable material (e.g., plastic) according to UNI EN 13432, e.g., with a thickness of between, for example, 400 and 2500 μm (1 micron=10⁻⁶ m);

a first end wall (bottom wall) 142 made of a compostable material according to UNI EN 13432; and

a second end wall (top or closing/sealing wall) 16 made of a compostable material according to UNI EN 13432.

As a whole the cartridge, if produced as described above, may be qualified as a whole as compostable according to UNI EN 13432.

In one or more embodiments, the material of the wall 16 may be suited to being sealingly connected, for example by heat-sealing, to the side wall 140 of the body 14 of the cartridge, for example on a flange 144 that surrounds the mouth part of the aforesaid body 140.

In one or more embodiments, the material of the bottom wall 142 may be suited to being sealingly connected, for example by heat-sealing, to the side wall 140 of the body 14 of the cartridge, for example on a flange 146 that extends towards the inside of the bottom part of the body 140.

In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall 142 may be made of a single piece with the side wall 140.

In this regard, it will be appreciated that the characteristics exemplified herein with reference to one between the closing wall 16 and the bottom wall 142 may apply to the other, with the closing wall 16 and the bottom wall 142 that may be the same as or different from one another.

In one or more embodiments, as exemplified herein, the bottom wall 142 may be plane or substantially plane. In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall 142 may present a vaulted conformation, e.g., concave with concavity facing the outside or the inside of the cartridge 10. Also in this case, the choice of this conformation is in no way imperative.

In one or more embodiments, the body 14 may present a tray-like conformation diverging from the bottom wall 142 towards the end closed by the sealing foil 16. In one or more embodiments, this divergent conformation may be a frustoconical conformation. This conformation is not on the other hand imperative in so far as the cartridge 10 may present as a whole different shapes, for example a prismatic shape, a frustopyramidal shape, etc.

It will consequently be appreciated that the perspective views of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 are cutaway views, in which one half of the cartridge 10 is visible, assuming that the non-visible half is specularly symmetrical to the visible half.

In various embodiments, the sequence of use of the cartridge 10 may be substantially equivalent to the sequence of use of the cartridge described in EP-A-0 507 905 or in WO2012/077066 A1 already mentioned, which renders any repetition herein of the corresponding description superfluous. This sequence of use, which is to be understood as being purely an example and such as to admit of different variants, is to be deemed in itself known, this rendering a more detailed description herein superfluous.

Once again, reference made herein to the end walls 142 and 16 as “bottom wall” and “top wall”, respectively, is made purely for reasons of simplicity and clarity of illustration and is irrespective of the effective modes of use of the cartridge (direction of flow of the water and/or steam through the cartridge and/or orientation of the cartridge in use).

For instance, in one or more embodiments it is possible to envisage introduction of water and/or steam into the cartridge through the closing wall 16 with the liquid product that is able to flow out of the cartridge through the bottom wall 142.

Once again, for example, in one or more embodiments, it is, instead, possible to envisage introduction of water and/or steam into the cartridge through the bottom wall 142 with the liquid product that is able to flow out of the cartridge through the closing wall 16.

Also as regards the orientation of the cartridge in use, one or more embodiments may envisage that the cartridge is used with the closing wall facing upwards and the bottom wall facing downwards.

One or more embodiments, may, instead, envisage that the cartridge is used with the closing wall facing downwards and the bottom wall facing upwards.

It may consequently be appreciated that the structure of the end walls 16 and 142 may be rendered symmetrical so as to enable delivery of the beverage indifferently either from one side or the other, this being an option of differentiation useful for the design of the apparatus that is to supply the above capsule.

Once again, one or more embodiments may envisage that the cartridge is used with the closing wall and the bottom wall approximately at the same height, i.e. set substantially horizontal.

The fact of making distinct reference to a compostable material according to UNI EN 13432 for the side wall 140, the bottom wall 142, and the top or closing wall 16 is aimed at highlighting the fact that these walls may be made of materials that are the same or that are different from one another: for instance (and this is just one of the possible examples), in one or more embodiments, the bottom wall 142 could be made of a single piece with the side wall 140.

As regards the choice of the compostable materials (i.e., according to a term at times used in the sector, “biomaterials”), for the side wall 140, the bottom wall 142, and/or the closing wall 16, it is possible to resort to compostable materials, such as cellophane, cellulose, and their derivatives, polymers extracted from biomass (e.g., polysaccharides, such as starch and its derivatives—cellulose, lipids, proteins); synthetic polymers (e.g., polylactic acid—PLA—derived from the fermentation of starch, polybutyrate adipate terephthalate—PBAT); polymers produced by micro-organisms or genetically modified bacteria (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates such as PHA, PHB, PHV, and PHH); polymers from fossil monomers (e.g., polybutylsuccinate—PBS—and polycaprolactone—PCL); polyanhydrides; and polyvinyl alcohol; this category may also comprise mixtures of the aforesaid compounds and/or include the addition of additives such as nanoparticles (e.g., talcum, cloisite).

As has already been said, the bottom wall 142 may be made of a material that is the same as or different from the material that constitutes the closing wall 16.

In one or more embodiments, for at least one of the two end walls 142 and 16 there may be provided a layered structure comprising at least one layer 1420 (respectively, 160) of a first compostable material and at least one layer 1422 (respectively, 162) of a second compostable material.

In one or more embodiments, for both of the two end walls 142, 16 there may be provided a layered structure comprising at least one layer 1420 (respectively, 160) of a first compostable material and at least one layer 1422 (respectively, 162) of a second compostable material.

In one or more embodiments, the first compostable material may be selected in the group consisting of cellophane, cellulose, and their derivatives, polymers extracted from biomass (e.g., polysaccharides, such as starch and its derivatives—cellulose, lipids, proteins); synthetic polymers (e.g., polylactic acid—PLA—derived from the fermentation of starch, polybutyrate adipate terephthalate—PBAT); polymers produced by micro-organisms or genetically modified bacteria (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates such as PHA, PHB, PHV, and PHH); polymers from fossil monomers (e.g., polybutylsuccinate—PBS—and polycaprolactone—PCL); polyanhydrides; and polyvinyl alcohol; this category may also comprise mixtures of the aforesaid compounds and/or include the addition of additives such as nanoparticles (e.g., talcum, cloisite).

In one or more embodiments, the second compostable material may be selected in the group consisting of paper, cellophane, cellulose, and their derivatives, polymers extracted from biomass (e.g., polysaccharides, such as starch and its derivatives—cellulose, lipids, proteins); synthetic polymers (e.g., polylactic acid—PLA—derived from the fermentation of starch, polybutyrate adipate terephthalate—PBAT); polymers produced by micro-organisms or genetically modified bacteria (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates such as PHA, PHB, PHV, and PHH); polymers from fossil monomers (e.g., polybutylsuccinate—PBS—and polycaprolactone—PCL); polyanhydrides; and polyvinyl alcohol; this category may also comprise mixtures of the aforesaid compounds and/or include the addition of additives such as nanoparticles (e.g., talcum, cloisite).

In the application considered herein, where (for example, in the preparation of a beverage such as coffee or espresso coffee) the liquid and/or the steam introduced into the cartridge may be at a temperature of around 100° C. and at pressures even higher than 10 atm, compostable materials like the ones recalled above may undergo softening or melting, a circumstance that may basically be put down to the fact that they are materials of natural origin.

Operating, for example, according to the criteria exemplified in EP 2 648 579 B1 it is possible to proceed so as to prevent the bottom wall, for example while it is perforated during the process of preparation of the liquid product, from rupturing in a random way or else obstructing, on account of a high creep at high temperatures, the orifices provided in the means, such as needles or tips, that are designed to perform the aforesaid operation of perforation, or else again undergoing considerable elongation at yield enveloping like a stocking the aforesaid perforating tips, in effect obstructing outflow of the beverage.

Adoption of the solution of perforation of the water-inlet side and of the coffee-outlet side presents the advantage of generating a pre-infusion of the beverage, which is useful for extracting the best substances from the toasted and ground coffee but simultaneously poses a technical challenge in the case, precisely, where the materials are compostable, in so far as they present high yield strain (consequently, they tend to envelop like a stocking the aforesaid tips) and in general are still very variable from one supply lot to another on account of the fact that they are materials of natural origin as opposed to materials deriving from classic synthesis of polyolefins, such as PP or PE.

For this reason, the present applicant, who is the patent holder, for example, of the patent No. EP 2 648 579 B1, has manufactured and marketed products (under the brand “Capsule A Modo Mio Compostabile”) where the inlet side and the outlet side of the cartridge are made of compostable materials, for example, of the type paper/polylactic acid (PLA). This solution facilitates repeatability and efficiency of perforation in so far as it enables use of materials that are stable over time and from one supply lot to another.

As has been said, a possible drawback linked to manufacture of cartridges using compostable materials may be represented by the permeability to oxygen and water vapour, which may present an adverse effect on the characteristics of the foodstuff product, the integrity of which may be altered by exposure to oxygen and water vapour during the period of conservation.

Such a phenomenon may lead to a reduction in shelf life of the foodstuff product, which in certain cases may, for example, be reduced to approximately fifteen days.

A solution that may be hypothesised for using compostable cartridges and at the same time maintaining long-term conservation of the foodstuff product could be that of producing cartridges in which all the walls (side wall and end walls) have a large thickness.

The use of cartridges with walls having large thicknesses may have an adverse effect both on the characteristics of use (e.g., bringing about a non-optimal perforation of the cartridge and a non-optimal delivery of the liquid product) and on the composting times.

One or more embodiments enable the above drawback to be overcome in so far as they make it possible to use compostable materials, at the same being able to facilitate achievement of a good protection in regard, for example, to oxygen and water vapour.

In order to reduce permeability to oxygen and water vapour, simultaneously maintaining (and possibly improving) stability over time and repeatability of perforation of the end walls of the cartridge, one or more embodiments may envisage bestowing upon at least one between the first end wall 142 and the second end wall 16 properties of barrier to oxygen and humidity.

In one or more embodiments, this result may be achieved by including in at least one of said walls at least one coating layer 1423 (respectively, 1423 a) with a barrier effect in regard to oxygen and humidity.

In one or more embodiments, the coating layer 1423 (respectively, 1423 a) may be sandwiched between the layer 1420 (respectively, 160) of first compostable material and the layer 1422 (respectively, 162) of second compostable material, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5.

The use of at least one barrier coating layer enables a compostable cartridge to be obtained in which the diffusion of oxygen and water vapour is reduced without any need to provide end walls of the cartridge with large thicknesses, with all the drawbacks outlined previously.

It will be appreciated that, in one or more embodiments, this solution may not be extended to the side wall or skirt wall 140 in so far as, in one or more embodiments, this wall may present (e.g., for reasons of structural strength of the cartridge) a thickness in itself sufficient to hinder penetration of oxygen and water vapour.

Materials that may be used to produce the coating layer/layers 1423 (respectively, 1423 a) with barrier effect in regard to oxygen and humidity may be chosen from polymeric materials widely used in the packaging field. In this regard, there is known the possibility of obtaining layers of polymeric materials of small thickness and at the same time with a limited permeability to gases, by applying on these polymeric materials barrier coating layers that may comprise metal coatings (e.g., with a base of metal oxides).

The above coating layers may present a lower gas-diffusion coefficient as compared to polymeric materials and consequently provide the materials on which they are applied with a barrier in regard to oxygen and water vapour, as is, for example, described with reference to Table 2, page 51 of the paper “Metallizing technical reference, 5th Edition (May 2012) AIMCAL”.

In various possible embodiments, the aforesaid barrier coating layers may, for example, be chosen from the following:

-   -   metallization layers;     -   silicon-based and/or silicon-oxide-based coatings;     -   aluminium-based and/or aluminium-oxide-based coatings;     -   polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and/or butenediol vinyl alcohol         copolymer (BVOH); and     -   combinations thereof.

Barrier coating layers of this type applied on layers of polymeric materials, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene (PE) have been available for several years now.

The aforesaid barrier coating layers are configured as applicable also on layers of compostable polymeric materials in order to bestow a barrier effect thereon.

This may apply, for example, to layers of compostable polymeric materials of a thickness of between 10 and 200 micron (1 micron=10⁻⁶ m), such as layers of polylactic acid (PLA), polyesters (for example, the material commercially available as Mater-Bi^((R)) produced by Novamont, Novara), cellulose/cellophane.

In one or more embodiments, a barrier coating, as exemplified above, designed to prevent diffusion of oxygen and humidity may be laid on such a material in the form of a continuous layer.

By way of further example of the possibility of coupling a compostable polymeric material with at least one barrier coating layer it is possible to cite the product with the brand Natureflex™ NM, marketed by Innovia Films.

One or more embodiments may consequently envisage use of a layer of compostable polymeric material coated with at least one barrier coating layer, as exemplified above to produce a compostable cartridge having barrier properties in regard to oxygen and water vapour.

In one or more embodiments, such a layer may in fact be coupled to a second layer of compostable material, e.g., by means of a converting process, widely used in the art.

In one or more embodiments, a sandwiched configuration thus obtained, in which the barrier coating layer is set between a layer of a first compostable material and a layer of a second compostable material of the layered structure of at least one between the end wall 142 and the second end wall 16 enables specific advantages to be achieved.

In one or more embodiments, it is thus possible to prevent, for example, the barrier coating layer 1423; 1423 a from coming into direct contact with the precursor of the beverage (typically coffee), thus being exposed to the abrasive action of the powdered foodstuff. This condition could generate microcracks, microcuts, or splits in the barrier coating layer, consequently facilitating entry into the cartridge of oxygen, humidity, and water vapour.

In one or more embodiments, it is likewise possible to avoid the coating layer 1423; 1423 a from being on the outside of the cartridge, thus being exposed to the action of the packaging machines/lines first and of the external environment subsequently, thus once again being subject to non-controlled abrasive action, which is likely to generate microcracks, microcuts, or splits.

One or more embodiments may consequently afford the advantage of increasing the barrier effect of the coating layer 1423; 1423 a, which, given that it is set between two layers of compostable material, is protected from any action of corrosion and/or abrasion that may be exerted by the contents of the cartridge and/or by external agents.

In one or more embodiments, at least one barrier coating layer may be comprised in the layered structure of both the first end wall 142 and the second end wall 16 in order to increase the resulting barrier effect.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of the layered structure of the bottom wall 142 of a cartridge according to one or more embodiments, for example illustrated in FIG. 2. The proportions between the thicknesses of the layers that make up the bottom wall and the barrier coating are exaggerated in the figure with the sole purpose of rendering the figure clearer.

In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates the bottom wall 142 comprising a layered structure with a layer 1420 made of a first compostable material, for example polylactic acid (PLA), and a layer 1422 made of a second compostable material, for example paper. A barrier coating 1423 is set between the layer 1422 and the layer 1420.

FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of the layered structure of the closing wall 16 of a cartridge according to one or more embodiments, for example the cartridge illustrated in FIG. 4.

In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates the closing wall 16 comprising a layered structure with a layer 162 of a first compostable material and a layer 160 of a second compostable material. A barrier coating 1423 a is set between the layer 162 and the layer 160.

The cartridge of the present description moreover enables an optimal barrier effect to be obtained, albeit having a relatively small thickness of the bottom wall 142 and/or of the closing foil 16.

In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall 142 and/or the closing foil 16 comprising at least one barrier coating layer have/has a thickness of between 20 μm and 2 mm, preferably between 50 μm and 0.5 mm and in a particularly preferred way between 60 μm and 300 μm.

In one or more embodiments, the end wall 16; 142 comprising at least one barrier coating layer may present:

an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) not higher than 1 cc/m²·24 h·atm (ASTM D3985), preferably not higher than 0.1 cc/m²·24 h·atm;

a water-vapour transmission rate (WVTR) not higher than 2.5 g/m²·24 h (ASTM F1249), preferably not higher than 0.1 g/m²·24 h.

In one or more embodiments, the cartridge 10 as a whole comprising at least one end wall with at least one barrier coating layer has values of OTR (according to ASTM F1307) and WVTR (according to ASTM E96/E96M-14) lower, respectively, than 0.06 cc/pkg·24 h·air and 0.1 g/pkg·24 h, preferably lower, respectively, than 0.02 cc/pkg·24 h·air and 0.05 g/pkg·24 h.

In one or more embodiments, the side wall 140 may present a thickness of between 400 and 2500 μm.

The values of OTR and WVTR of a cartridge that has at least one end wall 142; 16 made of the same material and with the same thickness as the side wall 140 are comparable to those obtained by providing the cartridge 10 as described herein, the thickness of the bottom wall 142 and/or closing foil 16 of which that comprises at least one barrier coating layer may be comprised between 20 μm and 2 mm, preferably between 50 μm and 0.5 mm, and in a particularly preferred way between 60 μm and 300 μm.

As has already been said, the use of end walls with excessively large thicknesses could have an adverse effect on the performance and on the characteristics of the cartridge.

One or more embodiments enable a cartridge 10 to be obtained with end walls that are compostable and at the same time present a barrier effect in regard to gases, albeit maintaining a reduced thickness. It may moreover be noted that in a frustoconical cartridge (as illustrated by way of example in the figures) in which the height of the frustoconical part 140 is typically smaller than the two diameters (or to the average size of the sides in the case of a rectangular shape), the part of the surface corresponding to the side wall 140 is far smaller than the surface that can be attributed to the end walls 142, 16.

At the level of modalities of production, one or more embodiments may envisage injection-moulding of the side wall 140 and subsequent sealing (e.g., heat-sealing) of the end walls 142, 16.

In this connection, it has been noted that a side wall 140 obtained via injection-moulding may have a thickness of between 400 and 2500 μm and hence be able to exert a certain effect of slowing-down of penetration of oxidising agents inside the cartridge, with this effect that tends to increase as the thickness of the wall 140 increases. Consequently, bestowing barrier properties in particular on at least one between the first end wall 142 and the second end wall 16 enables protection of the foodstuff product via a very simple production process at contained costs.

One or more embodiments may consequently envisage a cartridge (e.g., 10) containing a dose (e.g., 12) of at least one substance that can be used for preparing a liquid product, said cartridge comprising a side wall (e.g., 140), a first end wall (e.g., 142), through which said liquid product is able to flow out of the cartridge, and a second end wall (e.g., 16) of the cartridge at the end opposite to said first end wall, wherein said side wall, said first end wall, and said second end wall comprise compostable material, wherein at least one, optionally both, of said first end wall 142 and said second end wall 16 have a layered structure comprising at least one layer (e.g., 1420; 160) of a first compostable material and at least one layer (e.g., 1422; 162) of a second compostable material, with at least one coating layer (e.g., 1423; 1423a) constituting a barrier to oxygen and water vapour sandwiched between said layer of a first compostable material and said layer of a second compostable material.

In one or more embodiments, said side wall may be without any barrier coating layer.

In one or more embodiments, said side wall may have a thickness of between 400 and 2500 μm.

In one or more embodiments, said barrier coating layer may comprise material chosen from the following:

-   -   metallization layers;     -   silicon-based and/or silicon-oxide-based coatings;     -   aluminium-based and/or aluminium-oxide-based coatings;     -   polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and/or butenediol vinyl alcohol         copolymer (BVOH); and     -   combinations thereof.

In one or more embodiments, said first compostable material may be selected in the group constituted by cellophane, cellulose, polymers extracted from biomass, synthetic polymers, polymers produced by micro-organisms or genetically modified bacteria, polymers from fossil monomers, polyanhydrides, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof.

In one or more embodiments, said second compostable material may be selected in the group constituted by paper, cellophane, cellulose, polymers extracted from biomass, synthetic polymers, polymers produced by micro-organisms or genetically modified bacteria, polymers from fossil monomers, polyanhydrides, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof.

In one or more embodiments, said cartridge may present an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) lower than 0.06 cc/pkg·24 h·air, optionally lower than 0.02 cc/pkg·24 h·air (ASTM F1307).

In one or more embodiments, said cartridge may present a water-vapour transmission rate (WVTR) lower than 0.1 g/pkg·24 h, optionally lower than 0.05 g/pkg·24 h (ASTM E96/E96M-14).

Without prejudice to the underlying principle, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what has been illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the sphere of protection of the present invention, the above sphere of protection being defined in the annexed claims. 

1. Cartridge with a filling of at least one substance for preparing a liquid product, said cartridge including a side wall, a first end wall through which said liquid product can flow from the cartridge and a second end wall of the cartridge at the opposite side with respect to said first end wall, wherein said side wall, said first end wall and said second end wall comprise compostable material, wherein at least one, preferably both, of said first end wall and said second end wall have a layered structure with at least one layer of a first compostable material and at least one layer of a second compostable material, with at least one coating barrier layer to oxygen and water vapor included in a sandwich-like manner between said layer of a first compostable material and said layer of a second compostable material.
 2. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said side wall is free from coating barrier layers.
 3. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the side wall has a thickness comprised between 400 and 2500 micron.
 4. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said coating barrier layer comprises material selected among: metallization layers, silicon and/or silicon oxides based coatings, aluminium and/or aluminium oxides coatings, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and/or butenediol vinyl alcohol co-polymer (BVOH), combinations thereof.
 5. Cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said first compostable material is selected in the group consisting of cellophane, cellulose, polymers derived from biomasses, synthetic polymers, polymers produced by micro-organisms or genetically modified bacteria, polymers from fossil monomers, polyanhydrides, polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof.
 6. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first compostable material is selected in the group consisting of paper, cellophane, cellulose, polymers derived from biomasses, synthetic polymers, polymers produced by micro-organisms or genetically modified bacteria, polymers from fossil monomers, polyanhydrides, polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof.
 7. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge has an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) lower than 0.06 cc/pkg×24 h×air, preferably lower than 0.02 cc/pkg×24 h×air (ASTM F1307).
 8. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) lower than 0.1 g/pkg×24 h, preferably lower than 0.05 g/pkg×24 h (ASTM E96/E96M-14).
 9. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said said wall is higher than the thickness of the at least one, preferably both, of said first end wall and second end wall.
 10. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said the at least one, preferably both, of said first end wall and said second end wall comprising at least one barrier coating layer is comprised between 20 μm and 2 mm, preferably between 50 μm and 0.5 mm.
 11. Cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said the at least one, preferably both, of said first end wall and said second end wall comprising at least one barrier coating layer is comprised between 60 μm and 300 μm. 